Where does “lecherous” come from?

Lecherous derives from Middle English lecherous, from Old French lecherous and lecherie, from Old French lecher meaning to lick, ultimately from Proto-Germanic likkōną and Proto-Indo-European leyǵʰ-.

lecherous (English): Given to excessive sexual activity and debauchery

Definitions

  1. Given to excessive sexual activity and debauchery

Ancestry of “lecherous”, step by step

lecherous traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French lecherous

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlecherous—
2Old Frenchlicheriegluttony, sensuality, lewdness, lechery
3Old Frenchlechier—
4Vulgar Latin*liccāre—
5Proto-West Germaniclikkōnto lick
6Proto-GermaniclekanąTo leak; seep; drip
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleg-to leak

via Middle English lecherous

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlecherous—
2Old Frenchlecheriedebauchery; lechery
3Old Frenchlecher—

Words derived from “lecherous”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lekaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic likkōn →